Week: Holy Spirit Adventures
Each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Holy Spirit, like the disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, we’re patiently waiting for You to fill us with Your power and with Your presence. We’re ready for You to send us on new adventures.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Bella
John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
John 3:8 (NIVUK)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on what happened immediately after Paul and Silas had been praying and singing songs to God in their prison cell.
Read by Bella
Acts 16:26-30
Suddenly, there was a strong earthquake that shook the foundation of the jail. Then all the doors of the jail broke open, and all the prisoners were freed from their chains. The jailer woke up and saw that the jail doors were open. Thinking that the prisoners had already escaped, he got his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t hurt yourself! We are all here.’ The jailer told someone to bring a light. Then he ran inside and, shaking with fear, fell down before Paul and Silas. He brought them outside and said, ‘Men, what must I do to be saved?’
Acts 16:26-30 (NCV)
Wow! The earthquake was so strong that all of the prisoner’s chains fell off and the doors burst open. Let’s try to imagine what that would’ve felt like!
The jailer – the man in charge of the prison – was terrified because he thought that the prisoners had all escaped and he would be blamed for it. But they were all still there, in the prison – it made no sense?! Instead of trying to save themselves, Paul and Silas had obeyed the Holy Spirit’s prompts to stay in the prison, and it gave them an opportunity to tell the jailer all about Jesus’ love for him.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What would it be like to be in an earthquake? Maybe we’ve actually been in one? Or what’s the worst weather we’ve ever experienced?
And now, let’s ASK God to be with us and others.
Father God, we ASK you to help us to obey the Holy Spirit, just like Paul and Silas, even when it doesn’t seem to make sense. Help us to trust you, and give us the courage to do what you say.
In today’s Bible story, the jailer thought he would lose his job (and maybe his life) because the prisoners had escaped. He was relieved, and surprised, that they hadn’t.
Father God, we pray for anyone who has recently lost their job, or who wants a job but can’t find one. We ASK you to be with them – help them not to give up. We ASK you to help them to find a new job soon – something that they will really enjoy.
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Acts 16:26-30
Suddenly, there was a strong earthquake that shook the foundation of the jail. Then all the doors of the jail broke open, and all the prisoners were freed from their chains. The jailer woke up and saw that the jail doors were open. Thinking that the prisoners had already escaped, he got his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t hurt yourself! We are all here.’ The jailer told someone to bring a light. Then he ran inside and, shaking with fear, fell down before Paul and Silas. He brought them outside and said, ‘Men, what must I do to be saved?’
Acts 16:26-30 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we say YES to going on adventures with You. As we pray at the end of Lectio for Families every day, we say YES to listening to you, and obeying what you tell us to do.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
John 3:8 (NIVUK)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Phil lives close to a beach in the north of England with his wife, his daughters and his dogs. Phil works for 24-7 Prayer, mostly doing Lectio stuff, and helping to run Prayer Spaces in Schools. He runs a lot, usually for long distances. He likes curry, mountains, reading books and he still plays Pokemon Go.
Bella is 13 years old and lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her mum, dad and cocker spaniel Summer. She loves art, performing and Jesus!
